1/3/2008

It's only the third day of 2008 and Chattanooga fire investigators are already looking into what is believed to be the city's first fire-related fatality for the year.  Around 9:30 this morning, Chattanooga firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 3965 Fairfax Drive in Hixson.  Smoke was pouring out the front door as the firefighters rushed inside.  Captain Jimmy Spurling with Quint 19 said the visibility was down to zero as the firefighters located the fire in the kitchen.

The firefighters had the flames out in roughly five minutes, but during the operation, the firefighters found a lifeless body on the floor near the entrance to the kitchen.  The firefighters quickly carried the victim out to the front yard and immediately administered CPR.  The firefighters continued the CPR until paramedics with Hamilton County EMS arrived.  After checking the victim for any signs of a pulse, the paramedics stopped the CPR.  The victim was described as a 52-year-old woman.  Her identity is being withheld pending notification of immediate family members.  The body was transported to the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office, where the cause of death will be confirmed. Four or five cats also perished in the blaze.  Fire investigators said they could not find a smoke alarm in the house.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation.  Detectives with the Chattanooga Police Department's Major Crimes Division are also investigating the incident, which is standard protocol when fatalities are involved.  Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also responded to the scene, providing hot drinks and snacks to help emergency responders cope with the frigid temperatures.

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